By Becca Pilolla
Now that you’ve arrived in your new home, you have a lot on the ‘to do’ list. The important thing to remember is that this is your new home. You will be living here. You have time to do all you want to do, as long as you do it in a time efficiency way.
Managing your time abroad is just as important as managing your money while abroad. My best advice is always to make lists. Make a list of all the things you must do while you’re here, all the things you just can’t wait to do. Then make a list of all the things you feel like you should do, and maybe those you just aren’t that eager to do. Granted I know you will want to do them all, but prioritizing them is always key.
Keep in mind that weekends are usually spent for traveling. Yes, there will be a few weekends where you are here in your new home, but for the most part, you want to experience as much of Europe as possible. So remember to cut out most of the weekends.
Next remember the reason you are here; to study, go to class, and get school credit. So during the morning and early afternoon hours you should be in class. However, that leaves in between class, and evenings to have all the fun you want and get as much crossed off that list as possible.
Don’t go tourist crazy and run around like a madman and get everything done in one month. There’s no reason for that first of all, and second if you rush, you will never appreciate what it is you are actually doing in the moment. You will be too worried about making it to the next thing on time.
In Europe, there is no ‘on time’. Relax, enjoy, and have a glass of wine or two in between things. There’s no rule against enjoying yourself.
Be sure to see all you want to see while you’re abroad, but make sure that while you’re seeing it, you’re actually seeing it, admiring it, studying it, and taking it all in to enjoy it to its full potential. That’s why you went through the hassles and effort to live over here in the first place.
Time management abroad goes above making sure to do your class work, it’s making sure you’re able to get everything in in a short amount of time. Remember your lists, your wine, and an open mind ready to enjoy, and you will be just fine!
